It’s Tea Time – the first Australian Tea Expo

I had not given tea much thought until recently. I pretty much just drank the generic black stuff with a dash of milk to get me through the morning or to kill time during a morning tea break. It all changed when a buddy brought me back some green tea from Japan, grown by his wife’s family. Touted as a hangover prevention sure-thing. That was enough to get me drinking it but then I started to really enjoy it for the flavour rather than just its perceived health benefits. I have become a tea convert. Flicking the kettle on, and making a choice from my selection, is the first thing I do when I get home from work. 

Tea is becoming a big thing. Vue du Monde has a tea sommelier, new stores are popping up all over the place and now there is a Tea Expo, to be held in Geelong on the 17th and 18th of October. Unfortunately I can’t go because (very excitingly) I will be at Eat Drink Blog in Canberra that weekend so I caught up with Tea Master Sharyn Johnston, founder of Australian Tea Masters and guru behind the Australian Tea Expo, to find out a little more about this not-so-simple beverage.

What were you doing before you started Australia Tea Masters and how did you transition into a full time career centred around tea?

I lived and worked in many different countries overseas for 6 years in a senior executive role. I was responsible for training and new business development in 24 different countries, so this was a very busy time. I wanted to learn more about tea when I arrived back in Australia and discovered how difficult it was. I took one year out and studied tea and visited many different farms around the world and developed our Tea Master training program as well as set up Australian Tea Masters.

Tell me about the first time you realised tea could be so much more than just something to wake you up in the morning.

Sitting in a tea farm in Taiwan with a fifth generation tea farmer drinking tea after going through the whole processing cycle of the tea, all done by hand.

When was this in your period of discovery? I am interested to know whether there was a ‘moment’ or just a gradual evolution that made you realise the potential and joy a career in tea might hold for you.

Experiencing so many teas whilst I was working in the different countries and understanding the cultural history behind the tea made me appreciate a lot more about tea. Visiting tea farms in different countries and understanding how much work goes into producing tea for one cup made me have so much appreciation for everyone involved in the tea process from the tea farmer, pickers ,everyone who is involved in making tea. 

I always teach in every tea class respect to the picker and everything involved.

And what kind of tea did you drink with the Taiwanese tea farmer?

Formosa Oriental Beauty.

I watched him brew the tea by touching the outside of the kettle without a temperature gauge until it was just right. I watched him check the leaf brewing  until the colour was perfect, everything was about senses.

What can we expect from the inaugural Australian Tea Expo?

This expo is all about education and tea tasting. We want to give everyone the opportunity to experience some of the amazing varieties of tea and some of the beautiful cultures aspects of tea.

If I want to learn more about tea, how should I start?

The TEA101 on line course is a great self-paced on line training which on completion gives you a Certificate in Tea appreciation, this is a nice easy way to get excited about tea.

Bit more to it than something to dunk a biscuit in huh? For more information on the Expo check out their website.

Disclosure: This post is entirely unsponsored. I received no payment or product for the purposes of featuring this event.